C.J. Gaddis: Clemson's Best Athlete? |
CLEMSON - To hear Tommy Bowden tell it, Clemson's equipment staff might have to rummage around for a unique addition to the jersey of C.J. Gaddis this fall:
A large "S" emblazoned on his chest to signify Superman status. Corny, yes, but Gaddis would have to be the Man of Steel to pull off everything Bowden has envisioned for him. Speaking after Monday's spring practice session, Bowden began to tick off possible new positions for Gaddis should the Tigers' braintrust decide to take him out of the running for the backup quarterback spot. "Safety, rover, whip, running back, wide receiver, cornerback. Wherever we would have the biggest need," Bowden said. "He could return punts, too. He's a natural at that." All this, mind you, while still fighting Will Proctor for the No. 2 quarterback spot. And oh, by the way, did we mention he's also playing baseball for Jack Leggett's Tigers this spring? The only thing missing, it would seem, would be killing the 2-3 minutes spare time he has each day either selling popcorn in the concession stands or helping little old ladies across the street. But seriously folks, such is the pleasant problem facing Bowden and his staff. Gaddis is such a talented athlete that the Tiger brass feels it necessary to find a place on the field for the redshirt freshman. Helping matters along is the fact that Gaddis himself is willing to move. "He came to us before the spring and expressed a desire to get on the field," Bowden said. "You like to see that out of a young man. You'd much rather them come to you asking to get on the field, rather than having to try and talk them into it." Gaddis' future could be determined by a number of factors; lack of depth behind a senior at a particular spot, injuries, or simple performance - whether it be by Gaddis or someone else. "It may be that he just ends up playing quarterback and returning punts," Bowden said. "That might be it. It just depends on our needs...We'll probably talk about it at the end of this week." NOTES - Bowden said some of his players "looked like they've been on spring break for five days," while others continued to play well. In the first workout since evaluating the half-scrimmage which took place before the break, Bowden singled out defensive linemen Donnell Clark and Gaines Adams as players who seemed to stand out. "Now it's about consistency," he said. "Can they play hard every play?" - Corey Groover missed Monday's workout due to a family situation. Bowden would not elaborate, nor would he say when he expected Groover to return. - The annual spring game, set for 1 p.m. April 10, will return to Death Valley after two years at historic Riggs Field. Admission is free to the general public. The spring game will be preceded by the annual Athletic Dept. surplus sale, also at Death Valley. Season posters will be handed out free of charge, and the spring program will be available for $5. Dan Scott covers Clemson University for the Seneca Daily Journal/Clemson Messenger. He also hosts SportsTalk from 9 a.m.-Noon, Monday-Friday, on WCCP-Fm, 104.9. Click here for Dan Scott's SportsTalk discussion board.
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